Eye on the Street
Decatur Metro | May 22, 2011Sycamore Drive, Decatur GA (pic submitted by Dotan)
Sycamore Drive, Decatur GA (pic submitted by Dotan)
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Love it. We need more of these around the community.
I just don’t understand why everyone is in such a hurry to get to the next red light/stop sign.
Kudos to Grace Ann, Deanne, and other Decatur Heights neighbors for creating these traffic safety signs. DecaturMetro, note that they are posted along Sycamore Drive (not street).
Noted. Oh how I love the seemingly random changes in street names in this city.
They’re very pretty, but I believe they are also technically against municipal code.
Even if they are placed on private lawns (vs. on the 3 feet of city right-of-way?)
Not sure, it’s hard for my feeble mind to decipher. At the very least is seems like a permit is required. I don’t think it’s a code that I like, but I can understand its intention. Here’s the code: http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=12110&stateId=10&stateName=Georgia
Wow, any ordinance with seven “whereas”es, that has been “enacted but not yet codified”, and has equations in it is truly impressive. But I couldn’t find the reference to cute signs on lawns.
I know….I don’t know what happened. The link was general but the search within the link apparently didn’t carry a unique URL. Shoot….let me see if I can search it again.
Yippee…I think I figured it out: http://library.municode.com/HTML/12110/level2/PTIIICOOR_CH78SI.html
Wow, this was definitely more than I ever wanted to know or read about signs! I may not have read or digested all of it, but I’m thinking that the sign in the picture is still kosher. IMHO, the sign is too pretty and polite to meet the definition of “… imitation of an official traffic control, warning or public service sign.” True warning signs don’t usually say “Thanks!” Below is just a slice of the relevant code:
Sec. 78-16. – Prohibited signs and sign devices.
The following signs and sign devices are prohibited under the provisions of this chapter:
(1)Signs that display intermittent lights resembling flashing lights associated with danger.
(2)Signs using the word “stop” or “danger,” or imitation of an official traffic control, warning or public service sign.
(3)Signs which provide background of colored lights blending with traffic signals which might confuse a motorist when viewed from normal approach distance of 25 feet to 300 feet.
(4)Any sign attached or applied to benches, trash receptacles or any other unapproved supporting structure.
(5)Pennants, streamers, ribbons, whirligigs, spinning devices and similar-type devices.
(6)Signs, other than temporary signs, which are not securely affixed to the ground or securely anchored so as to be immobile or otherwise affixed in a permanent manner to an approved supporting structure.
(7)Signs attached to or placed on a vehicle that is parked on private property, except service vehicles temporarily parked there.
(8)Roof signs.
(9)Animated signs.
(10)Billboards.
(11)Clock signs, except when used as a principal business identification sign.
(12)Flashing signs.
(13)Marquee signs except for bona fide theaters.
(14)Rotating signs.
(15)Portable signs.
(16)Commercial product signs on residentially zoned property.
(17)Off-premises signs.
(18)Signs advertising alcoholic beverages.
(19)Temporary signs unless permitted by this chapter.
But there may be something else buried in the rest of the code that I missed. BTW, I see lots of colorful “whirligigs” and “spinning devices” on lawns and in gardens around town. I’m not sure we should be prohibiting them, unless they are obtrusive, e.g. more than 20 feet in diameter. They are fascinating to children and a good first exposure to the principles of circular motion (kind of like ceiling fans) plus the color wheel.
The speed limit over there is 35 mph. While I’ll admit 35 may be a little high, 25 is ridiculous. If I come up behind you, I will be (respectfully and safely) passing you.
The thing is, the speed limit is 35 on Sycamore. So I’m a bit confused about why they’re posting on the signs that people should be going 10 below.
It’ll be WONDERFUL if drivers are receptive to our friendly requests!
(Lowering the speed to 25MPH is a very real goal for our neighborhood, and the City’s currently evaluating our petition.)
Neighbors are seeking to make this area of Decatur Heights a designated 25MPH Residential Speed Zone. Reducing the speed limit and implementing two other traffic calming measures (one being the addition of stop signs and a crosswalk over Sycamore Drive in the area pictured) will add about a minute and a half to drive time when going from one end of Sycamore Drive to the other; however, it’ll improve safety for everyone using our streets & sidewalks, and it’ll greatly increase neighbors’ enjoyment of our neighborhood.
(Fortunately, nearby N. Arcadia/Dekalb Industrial is specifically designed for commuter traffic– multiple lanes, a higher speed limit, and well timed traffic signals. )
go for 20 mph and bike lanes
[img]http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/images/20sPlentyLogo.gif[/img]
I bike down Sycamore on my way to work and routinely exceed 20 mph. So you advocate a speed limit for cars that would result in them getting passed by bikes?
All vehicles are subject to posted speed limits. But setting that aside, sure, I don’t have a problem with that. I’m not fond of the wildly unfair advantage cars have in overtaking me if I’m fighting a granny gear hill, but I wouldn’t say that hills should not be permitted. This is a road through a residential neighborhood, right?
Bobby-
Love this! How outstanding it’d be if THIS was what we chose as our way to really set Decatur apart! What better way to show our commitment to truly being a pedestrian & bike friendly city than to create the ideal safe environment for it?
(To read about it: http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/ )
Re bike lanes- Sycamore Drive is a proposed Decatur Bicycle Network route. (It’s also a major Safe Routes to School path.) Bike lanes were discussed briefly at last summer’s neighborhood meeting with the City; however, we went with tackling the other safety related measures first. We’ll definitely take up the topic of bicycle lanes again– hopefully soon. (Sycamore Drive is also in the City’s long range plans for a streetscape makeover.)
Have there been actual problems with the speed limit or is this just a wish for local residents?
IMO a speed limit of 35 mph on a residential street is in itself a problem.
+1
Pretty signs! Sweetly suggestive <3
The posted speed limit may be 35 mph but the measured avg speed is probably much higher than that. It’s the way some folks drive in/around ATL – they push it to the ‘limit of the limit’ – just so fast that they don’t get a ticket. Sooo, lower the legal limit to 25 mph and the fastest of the fast will slow to a reasonable speed (35) that is safe for the neighborhood. Sounds reasonable to me.
Traffic calming? Does that mean more speed bumps? A stop sign every quarter of a mile seems adequate.
No speed bumps petition! The 3rd petition is a request for a study of the Sycamore Drive/ Grove St. curve to see what basic traffic calming measure(s) could be put in place to slow folks down.